The Catholic Church in East St. James Parish

Everlasting Life can only be gained through the Cross of Jesus Christ, and we are invited to receive the gift of his love and join with Him in dying to ourselves. It was His way; it is our way.

watch the video: Fr Vincent's reflections on Good Friday

read his reflections: 

Good Friday 2020

Start in silence, gazing on the relic of the True Cross.

                     Remember your mercies, O Lord,

                     and with your eternal protection sanctify your servants,

                     for whom Christ your Son,

                     by the shedding of his Blood,

                     established the Paschal Mystery.

                     Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

                                Amen.

Thanks for joining me by video as we continue our reflection on the Sacred Triduum.  We are here in St. Joseph Church, where we have the great honor of housing a relic of the True Cross of Jesus Christ.  We started by gazing upon it and offering the prayer which beings the Good Friday service, not a Mass, but the commemoration of Jesus’ Passion and Death.

You may sit down as we now listen to a section of the Passion according to John.  If you want to look it up in your Bible and follow along, it is John 19:16b-18; 26-30.

The Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John.

           So they took Jesus, and carrying the cross himself,

                he went out to what is called the Place of the Skull,

                in Hebrew, Golgotha.

           There they crucified him, and with him two others,

                one on either side, with Jesus in the middle.

           When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there

                     whom he loved,

                he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.”

           Then he said to the disciple,

                “Behold, your mother.”

           And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.

           After this, aware that everything was now finished,

                in order that the scripture might be fulfilled,

                Jesus said, “I thirst.”

           There was a vessel filled with common wine.

           So they put a sponge soaked in wine on a sprig of hyssop

                and put it up to his mouth.

           When Jesus had taken the wine, he said,

                “It is finished.”

           And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit.

The Gospel of the Lord.     R/.  Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

On Good Friday, we commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus.  The word “commemorate” means more than “remember” or “recall;” it means “to be unite with the event.”  The Church invites us to walk the Way of the Cross with Jesus, to climb Calvary and stand beneath the Cross with Mary and John and the others brave enough to be there.  Not Peter and the other nine Apostles; they still lacked the courage!  Sometimes we do, too.  The gruesomeness is too much for many.

John who stood there, and who wrote the Gospel, saw beyond the agony, (though he gives great detail), to what is truly happening: God’s ultimate act of love for His sinful children, “I will die for you!”  Jesus, from the Cross, carries out the responsibility of his love for his mother, Mary, by giving her into John’s care, and even His love for John, by giving him into Mary’s motherly love.  Tender love overpowers the evil and hate of this world.  John understood this act of giving was as valuable as all the suffering Jesus endured.  Sin is being destroyed by love even before Jesus declares his mission “finished” and gives over his spirit.

You and I today are invited to witness and experience this great and awesome love, to hear the tenderness of Jesus’ love for me, for you.  The power of that love breaks down my stubbornness and hard-heartedness.  It makes me want to love in return.  I can feel my sins destroyed by Jesus from the Cross and the fullness of Heaven’s grace flooding in.  I must love all whom I meet because God’s self-sacrificing love from Jesus is too much for my heart to keep to itself.

- - - - - - -

The Good Friday Service continues with the Solemn Intercessions.  These are 10 special intercessions for all the world.  This year, Pope Francis with the Congregation for Divine Worship has inserted an intercession specifically for the Coronavirus pandemic.  I invite you to join me in praying that most significant Solemn Intercession right now.

Solemn Intercession:

Let us pray also for all those who suffer the consequences of the current pandemic, that God the Father may grant health to the sick, strength to those who care for them, comfort to families and salvation to all the victims who have died.

Prayer in silence

           Almighty ever-living God,

           only support of our human weakness,

           look with compassion upon the sorrowful condition of your children

           who suffer because of this pandemic;

           relieve the pain of the sick,

           give strength to those who care for them,

           welcome into your peace those who have died

           and, throughout this time of tribulation,

           grant that we may all find comfort in your merciful love.

           Through Christ our Lord

           R/.  Amen.

We will conclude in silence, venerating the relic of the True Cross, so I will just invite you to please join me tomorrow for our video reflection on the Easter Vigil.

This is the Prayer of the Church for all of you venerating the Cross of our Savior:

                     May abundant blessing, O Lord, we pray,

                     descend upon your people,

                     who have honored the Death of your Son

                     in the hope of their resurrection:

                     may pardon come,

                     comfort be given,

                     holy faith increase,

                     and everlasting redemption be made secure.

                     Through Christ our Lord.

                     Amen.

End in silence, gazing on the relic of the True Cross.